The Arizona Senate Government Committee passed four anti-Public Safety  bills by a 4-2 margin.

Based on the content of the bills, the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police considers this an all-out attack on law enforcement officers’ right to have a voice in matters that impact our lives and the safety of the public we serve. What these legislators are conveying is that you can risk your life, and in some cases give your life, but you have no right to have your representative organization negotiate ANY terms and conditions of employment; including asking management for patrol cars that don’t explode upon being rear-ended, insisting on safe procedures to be implemented when handling violent prisoners or asking for fair treatment in the aftermath of a critical incident. The message sent to law enforcement was clear… we don’t care about your concerns about safe working conditions, so shut up!

The bills were advocated by the anti-public employee Goldwater Institute. It’s our opinion, Goldwater staffers presented false and misleading information about meet and confer negotiations conducted in Arizona.  During testimony, the Goldwater staffers insulted police officers and firefighters by calling the unions a labor “cartel.” 

“This is a secret negotiation conducted by a labor cartel protected by laws that compel the government employer to bargain with them until they’re happy.” —- Nick Dranias of the Goldwater Institute in recorded Senate testimony

Read the Arizona anti-union measures:

• SB1485 Prohibits all public employee collective bargaining in Arizona
• SB1486 Barring cities and counties from paying release time to workers who are actually doing union business;(the Goldwater institute previously sued the City of Phoenix over release time given to PLEA)
• SB1484  Requiring unions to obtain annual authorization for payroll deductions for dues;
• SB1487 A more far-reaching version to ban union payroll deductions entirely.

In just the last few DAYS, Republican legislatures in eight states have introduced similar legislation.

• Michigan - January 31, 2012 (AP)  LANSING, Mich. — A legislative showdown between Republicans who control the Michigan Legislature and labor unions escalated Tuesday, as a House committee approved a bill that would require employees to annually renew their written consent allowing certain union dues to be deducted from their paychecks.
• Indiana - February 1, 2012 – Indiana Passes Anti-Union Bill – Indiana’s state Senate passed a “right-to-work” bill Wednesday that will allow workers at unionized businesses to opt out of paying dues. Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels, who has championed the bill, is expected to sign it Wednesday
• New Hampshire - Feb 1, 2012 – In New Hampshire lawmakers are considering anti-union measures similar to the Arizona bills, including a ban on collective bargaining and on deducting dues from public employees’ paychecks.
• South Carolina - 1/25/2012 – COLUMBIA — South Carolina Republican lawmakers vowed Tuesday to get even tougher on unions in a state where union bashing is a marketing tool, with moves that critics call needless appeals to GOP voters.
• Missouri - January 31, 2012 – Jefferson City, MO — The Missouri Senate took its first stab Tuesday at passing a controversial bill that would keep public unions from being able to automatically withdraw dues from employee paychecks.
• Oklahoma - HAWNEE, Okla. — Legislation filed by Speaker Pro Tempore Jeff Hickman would ensure the state government no longer serves as a dues collector for labor unions. House Bill 3111 would eliminate automatic payroll deductions by state agencies for membership dues to the Oklahoma Public Employees Association (OPEA) and automatic payroll deductions by schools districts for contributions to an education employee association or union like the Oklahoma Education Association (OEA).
• Utah - 02/01/2012  – Utah now enters the national fray over public employees collective bargaining. On Tuesday, Rep. Keith Grover, R-Provo, an Alpine School District administrator, introduced HB106, a bill that would stop state and local governments, including school districts, from bargaining with public employees on any issue other than for wages and health care. In other words, no collective bargaining allowed.
• North Carolina – Sunday, January 29, 2012 – North Carolina’s teachers union is suing the legislature after lawmakers met late at night in special session to approve legislation that will prevent union members from voluntarily choosing to have union dues automatically deducted from their paychecks.